The River Dell Golden Hawks Freshman Football Team surged to a 28-8 victory over the Westwood Cardinals at River Dell High School in Oradell, New Jersey.
Westwood jumped out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter on an electrifying 54-yard touchdown run followed by a successful two-point conversion.
However, River Dell answered back resoundingly on a spectacular 74-yard kickoff return by Jathniel Iyonsi. The Golden Hawks attempted the two-point conversion, which worked to perfection. Quarterback Iain Rossig tossed a pass to Jathniel Iyonsi in the flat, and then Iyonsi muscled into the end zone, tying the game up at 8-8.
In the second quarter, the River Dell defense made a defining statement. Iain Rossig delivered a massive hit on the Cardinals quarterback, dislodging the ball and allowing defensive lineman Teddy Schwanewede to recover the fumble at the Westwood 41-yard line.
On first down, Rossig completed a pass to Connor Gastman, who rumbled down to the Cardinals’ 17-yard line. With first and goal at the six-yard line, Rossig took the snap in shotgun formation, ran to the right side of the line, and powered his way across the goal line for the touchdown that put the Golden Hawks up 15-8.
Moving to the fourth quarter, River Dell switched up the formula through the air. Jackson Lee, under center, took the snap in shotgun formation, lofted a pass to wide-open Iain Rossig, and Rossig darted to the end zone for the 38-yard score that widened the Golden Hawks’ advantage to 22-8.
Late in the fourth quarter, River Dell’s defense dug a line in the sand that ended in a turnover on downs. The Golden Hawks offense utilized the pound and ground attack, with smash mouth running by Caleb Yoon gaining 29 yards on back-to-back running plays. Yoon finished the drive and game emphatically, plowing straight ahead into the end zone for the four-yard touchdown as River Dell won 28-8.